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Holocene faunal remains from Spila nad Procjepom cave (island of Mljet): Preliminary results and future investigations

Spila nad Procjepom cave, 35 meters long chamber, is located on 210 m a.s.l. on the southern side of the Mljet island at the Briježina hill. The preliminary results of former investigations, which were performed from 2010 till 2012, gave the first sedimentological, paleontological, archaeological, as well as absolute dating informations for this site (Brajković et al. 2013, Oros Sršen et al. 2013, 2017). Collected faunal material consists of abundant marine (Echinidae, Crustacea, Mollusca /Gastropoda and Lamellibranchiata/, and Pisces), and slightly less numerous terrestrial taxa (Gastropoda, Amphibia, Aves, and Mammalia). Over 15, 000 specimens (total NISP = 15, 280) have been determined up till now. The material originates mostly from Sonda I (trench I) which was excavated in 2010 and 2011. Marine fauna prevail in this trench, while in Sonda II (trench II) skeletal elements of terrestrial animals are more represented. In 2010 two specimens (premolar and mandible) of Homo sapiens sapiens have been found. Also interesting are finds (canine fragments) of brown bear (Ursus arctos) which is not a member of the present-day fauna of the Mljet island. Other small mammal finds represent the animals which still live in this area. Avian remains are very scarce, unlike to the small ruminant remains (Capra and Ovis) which are very abundant. This leads to a conclusion that herding had an important role from the prehistoric to the recent times. It seems that similar importance had also different marine animals in the human diet on this island. Remains of wild animals are not so numerous, but in a certain aspect they unveil the conditions of environment in the vicinity of the cave. Among rodents prevail glirids (Glis glis) and murids (mice and rats), which are typical forest dwellers, as well as are beech marten (Martes foina) and brown bear (Ursus arctos), respectively. Among bird remains the following orders have been confirmed: Ciconiformes, Anseriformes, Falconiformes, Galliformes, Gruiformes, Strigiformes and Passeriformes. Majority of bird species still live on the island (as residents, summer or winter visitors and, passage migrants ; Jurinović et al. 2010). Exception are rock partridge (cf. Alectoris graeca) and long- eared owl (cf. Asio otus), which are not recorded in the recent fauna of Mljet. The bird taxa indicate more open environment in comparison to the present-day mainly forest one, as well as existence of water body in the surroundings, the most probably the Blatina pond nearby the Blato village. On the basis of former researches, as well as very abundant finds of different taxa, it would be necessary to continue the excavations to deeper layers which may contain the Late Pleistocene fauna. In that term, better understanding of the environmental conditions, and reconstructions of the climate and life of the Mljet island would be enabled.

fauna, Holocene, Spila nad Procjepom cave, Croatia

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